BRENHAM PLANNING & ZONING TO CONSIDER CODE AMENDMENTS FOR CAR WASHES, DATA CENTERS
The Brenham Planning and Zoning Commission will potentially vote today (Monday) to amend city code to put in new restrictions for car washes and data centers.
Workshop sessions have been held over the past two months with the commission and the city council, concerning the addition of new standards for car washes and the adoption of a definition and related standards for data centers.
For car washes, the proposed code amendments would require new car washes or existing ones that undergo a large renovation to utilize water recycling systems, low-flow spray nozzles or alternative means to limit water usage. They would also make it to where car washes cannot be located within a two-mile radius of another car wash.
Additionally, the amendments would officially define data centers in city code and designate them as specific uses in industrial districts, meaning they would have to go through two public hearings and a property-specific analysis. Further, data centers would be subject to prohibitions on using water-based cooling methods, as well as requirements to submit electric demand reports; screen all ground-mounted equipment; adhere to a minimum of one off-street parking space per 300 square feet of floor area used for office, meeting, training or security personnel uses; and maintain at least 300 feet of distance between any data center building or ancillary equipment and the property line of a residential or public institutional use.
Also at today’s meeting, the commission will consider the creation of a planned development district for 5.73 acres of land addressed as 708 Seelhorst Street, owned by Jeremy and Chelsea Bowie. The property owners have proposed a cluster housing subdivision of 32 single-family homes. The planned development district would not permit accessory dwelling units, duplexes, twin homes, manufactured homes or non-residential uses.
The commission will also take up a replat of 0.35 acres addressed as 402 Cottonwood Street and 405 Botts Street. The property owner, the Bevers Family Trust, wishes to replat the property to create two lots. The portion of the property addressed as 402 Cottonwood Street has a single-family home and a garage with an upstairs accessory dwelling unit, while the portion of the property addressed as 405 Botts Street is developed with a duplex.
The commission will meet today at 5:15 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.
Click here to view the agenda packet for Monday's meeting.